AHS Centaur sunk by Japanese submarine – 14 May 1943
Around 4am on the 14th of May 1943, 2/3rd Australian Hospital Ship (AHS) Centaur was hit by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine, near North Stradbroke Island off Queensland. A fuel tank exploded, causing fire to quickly spread, and the in-rushing water took only three minutes to sink the ship.
At the time, the Centaur was clearly identifiable as a hospital ship, emblazoned with multiple Red Cross symbols and sailing with all her lights on. On board were 332 people, and only 64 survived the brutal attack and subsequent sinking.
This tragic event is commemorated in the Concord Repatriation General Hospital Memorial Window. A beautiful example of the art of stained glass, the memorial features a likeness of the Centaur, surrounded by the floral emblems of Australia. The window is inscribed "in memory of those who perished" and an honour roll is located nearby. This list includes Sister Doris Joyce Wyllie and Sister Ellen Savage, who was the only surviving nurse.
Originally from Bundaberg, Queensland, Sister Wyllie enlisted on the 22nd of November 1941. A trained nurse, she was a member of the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) and served at the 113th Australian General Hospital (AGH), now known as Concord Repatriation, before embarking on the Centaur on the 8th of April 1943. Her death is listed as killed in action, at sea.
The dedicated and courageous Sister Savage, also of the AANS, helped other survivors on her life raft, despite her own wounds. After more than 30 hours adrift, she was rescued and received treatment for her injuries, which included fractured ribs. She was later awarded a George Medal for "conspicuous service and high courage" and served at the 113th AGH until discharged on the 8th of March 1946. She died on the 25th of April 1985, aged 72.
Read about other memorials related to the service personnel of the Centaur on the NSW War Memorials Register:
- Sydney Hospital Second World War Roll of Honor
- Norman Alfred Hodgkinson Memorial Window
- Paul Bracken and Kevin Williams Memorial Plaque
- St Peter's Church War Memorial Chapel Tablet, SCEGGS Darlinghurst
Image caption: Centaur Memorial Window at Concord Repatriation General Hospital. Provided by Mr Rusty Priest AM.